President-elect George W. Bush marked Martin Luther King’s birthday by pledging to black Americans – who voted by a 9-1 ratio against him – that he’ll help fulfill King’s dream by fixing “unequal” schools.

“The dream of equality is empty without excellent schools – schools that stress reading and discipline and character and decency,” Bush vowed at Kelso elementary school Houston, which is two-thirds black and one-third Latino.

“America does not always live up to our ideals. Many Americans still face prejudice. The hopes of too many children are frustrated by deep poverty and unequal schools.”

Bush says education will be a top priority and aides say he hopes that changing public schools will help ease negative attitudes among black voters.

“As president, my job will be to listen not only to the successful but also to the suffering – to work toward a nation that respects the dignity of every single life,” he said.

Bush focused on education as a civil right and a path to opportunity rather than issues stressed by many Democrats, like affirmative action and voting rights.

The slain civil rights leader’s son claimed Bush’s Florida victory was due to suppression of black votes.

“In 1965, my father fought for us to get the right to vote. We didn’t know then that, in 2000, we’d have to fight to get our votes counted,” Martin Luther King III said.